Are these materials enough to study for the DAT?

[Springs01]

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Hi guys,

I'm new here. I'll be taking the DAT in just 4 weeks. I don't have a lot of time and it's hard to carve out study time during the week since I work full time.

I was originally planning to study using my college textbooks to but it's way too dense and I just don't have enough time. So here are the other books that I have:

1. Kaplan review notes (planning to use it for Orgo and Chem)
2. Cliffs AP bio
3. Barrons DAT (only for PAT section)
4. QR and RC - just going to do a lot of practice online with Kaplan

Is this okay? My main concern right now is Orgo and Chem. Do you think Kaplan review notes should be able to nail them?

Thanks so much!





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[ddsJD]

Do you have any practice quizzes/tests?

I would recommend investing in datQvault, so you can get used to timed sections. If I was you, I would watch Chad's Videos for Gen Chem and Orgo and then take his quizzes, especially if that is your main concern.

I'm sure you've read recommendations about destroyer, but considering what little time you have left, I would only do what you have and the suggestions I mentioned above.

I REALLY wouldn't go through old textbooks either with that short of time, unless it is just to clarify concepts. You have time to hit the big points covered on the DAT, but not nearly enough to get all the detail. Good luck!

 

[Springs01]

Thanks ddsJD.
I do have practice tests and questions online and Kaplan. I'm planning on doing those. I'll look more into the Chad Video's. I heard a lot of good things about them.

I have a second question: Should I quit my job and then extend my exam date to maybe mid July so I have more time to do some in-depth studying? I really want to do well my first time.

 

[hoopraeb]

I was in a similar position as you and decided not to invest in too many study materials since I knew I wouldn't have the time to get through it all. But I agree that if Gen Chem and Orgo are your biggest concerns that you should consider looking into Chad's videos. I would keep the old textbooks on standby though if you do actually need better clarification for select subjects.

I think that having a full time job with only 4 weeks of study time makes things very difficult for you. You may be able to pull it off since I don't know how strong your study habits and work ethic will be, but you will probably be going through hell and back. It may not be worth it to put yourself through unnecessary stress. If it were me, I would consider quitting or at least dropping to part time.

As to whether or not you should reschedule, the decision really relies on you. If you really commit and don't dawdle when it is study time, then sure, I think 4 weeks will be fine. At the end of the day, it's not about how many resources you used or that you studied for 12+ hours a day, but rather the quality of the studying. You just want to go in feeling like you are ready to take it on and if you did that in half the study time as the person next to you, then more power to ya!

On the bright side though at this point you will be paying $60 no matter if you decide to reschedule today or even 6 business days before your exam. If you start studying and two weeks in you realize you won't make through all that you want, it wouldn't be too late to reschedule...well unless all of the seats at your testing center are filled up for the day you want.

Good luck!!!

 

[IsaacYankem]

Is this okay? My main concern right now is Orgo and Chem. Do you think Kaplan review notes should be able to nail them?

Chad's and Destroyer is all you need.

 

[hope_to_match]

Do you have any practice quizzes/tests?

I would recommend investing in datQvault, so you can get used to timed sections. If I was you, I would watch Chad's Videos for Gen Chem and Orgo and then take his quizzes, especially if that is your main concern.

I'm sure you've read recommendations about destroyer, but considering what little time you have left, I would only do what you have and the suggestions I mentioned above.

I REALLY wouldn't go through old textbooks either with that short of time, unless it is just to clarify concepts. You have time to hit the big points covered on the DAT, but not nearly enough to get all the detail. Good luck!

which subject do you suggest from DAT qvault? just bio? or any other ones?

 

[Dotoday]

If chem is your weakest subject, try looking into Destroyer and Odyssey in addition to Kaplan.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[ddsJD]

which subject do you suggest from DAT qvault? just bio? or any other ones?

I think the qVault Bio is great. I would do all ten Bio quizzes multiple times until you know every answer and why the wrong choices are wrong. Learning all of that covers a pretty good deal of material.

However, I think the other sections aren't bad either. I would get all of them if I was you, to supplement your studying. I would probably rank the sections in order of helpfulness like this:

Bio>>Gen Chem>QR>/=Orgo>RC

I have only done a few PAT tests, but they seem to be helpful to me - TFE is pretty tough, but everything else is good.

 

[xatlasb]

Definitely invest in Destroyer and Chad's. I literally owe my 24 TS to that I think, along with diligent flashcards and review of Cliff's AP bio.

Don't underestimate QR as well. Granted it's not really the top score looked at, it can REALLY skyrocket your AA, and so you should spend the extra time to getting the highest score you can on it. Remember, once you are in that 22 range, EVERY question right beyond that will boost your score up by 2-3 points, maybe more, and that makes a HUGE difference.

 

[ToBeDDSS]

for math i'll suggest math destroyer. GC and OC destroyer plus kaplan and dont ignore PAT either. for reading Crack that reading.